Tank-heater.



l. G. WIDHELM.

TANK HEATER.l

APPLICATION FILED NOV- l |9l7.

1 ,273,560. Patented July 23, 1918.

2 SHEETS-SHEET l.

J. G. WIDHELM.

TANK HEATER.

APPLICATION FILED Nov.l. 1911.

J @Het mn, S.

uNrTEn sTATEs PATENT oEEioE. f

JOSEPH G. WIDHEilVI, FREMONT, NEBRASKA.

TANK-HEATER.

.invention is to vprovide a novel construction of heater which will permit the same to `be submerged and rest upon the bottom of the tank and expose an extensive heating surface to the water in the tank so that it will be prevented from freezing and will be maintained at the proper temperature for stock-watering purposes. A further 4object of the invention is to provide a novel construction which will afford means for cooking feed for stock at the same time that the water in the tank is kept in proper condit-ion for use. Other and incidental objects ofthe invention will appear as the description thereof proceeds.

The invention is illustrated in the accompanying drawings, in which: Figure 1 is a perspective view of my improved heater;

- Fig. 2 is `a plan view of the same;

"Fig 3 is a central vertical longitudinal section;

Fig. 4t is a transverse section on the line Fig. 5 is a detail perspective view of the door or closure forthe heating chamber.

In carrying outl my invention, I employ a body which is preferably a single cast- "ing presenting a vertical hollow column or 'chamber 1, from the lower-portion of which la heating chamber 2 extends laterally. The

column V1 should be of sufficient height to 4extend above the water level and the top of the heating chamber should present a Nflat surface 3,-as shown. The bottom il of the casting extends laterally beyond the column 1 to `constitute the bottom plate of theheating-chambei, and, upon the under .side of said bottom plate, are lugs or feet ltherefrom."` The wall 6 of the heating chamber is approximately semicircular in horizontal section and is, in effect, a continua- Speccation of Letters Patent.

Application filed November 7, 1917.

invention relates to heaters for Patented July 23, 1918.

Serial No. 200,767.

tion of the side walls of the column connected by an arcuate wall, which latter diverges upwardly from the column and terminates at the bottom wall of a lateral extension 7 of the heating chamber, as shown clearly in Fig. 3. The outer end of the lateral extension is arcuate, as shown most clearly in Fig. 2, and adjacent this arcuate extremity an opening 8 is provided in the top plate 3 to receive a smoke pipe or escape flue 9. This smoke pipe or escape flue should, of course, extend upwardly so that its height willbe at least equal to the height of the column 1 and will permit the escape of smoke and other products of combustion into the open air above the water.

It will be readily noted that the body is of such forni as to bring its walls close around the burner or heating element with the result that the walls will be brought to a high temperature and will radiate heat for a considerable period after the re has been extinguished. Moreover, the heat will tend to concentrate in the lateral extension of the heatingchamber and, as the water is in contact with the bottom and sides of said extension as well as the sides of the heating chamber, the heat will act directly on a large body of the watei' so that circulation of the same will be quickly set up and the entire volume of water in the tank warmed and prevented from freezing.

The upper end of the column 1 is preferably closed by a cover 10 having a damper 11 therein whereby the flow of air to the heating chamber may be regulated, and in `one edge offthis cover is a notch 12 through which a fuel supply pipe13 may pass. The fuel supply pipe passes downwardly through the column 1'to a point near the bottom thereof, where itis turned toward the heating chamber and passes through a notch 14 near the lower end of a partition 15 which is formed integral with the side walls of the column and constitutes the inner wall of the heating chamber, the said partition having a large opening 1G formed therein to accommodate a door or closure 17. The said door or closure is provided with a notch or opening 18 in its lower edge so that air may pass under the door to the heating chamber and feed the burner 23 provided within said chamber on the ehd of the fuel supply pipe. On the inner face of the door 17, reinforcing ribs 19 are provided and these ribs are adaptedto fit against the side walls of the openingv 16 in the partition so as to frictionally engage the same and thereby aid 1n holding the door in position, it being understood that the lower end of the door-wvill rest upon the bottom plate 4 of the main casting. -At its upperV extremity,the door 17`is'provid'ed with a handle 20 and below said handle and near the same, an inspection opening 21 is provided so that the condition of the flamemay be noted at any time.

" From the foregoing description, taken in connection with the accompanying drawings, itV will be seen'lthat I have provided an exceedingly simple .heater which may be readily placed Vin 'a tank or may be moved from place to place; The entire heating portion ofthe device may: be submerged so that a vlarge heatingsurface will be presented toxthe water andeconsequently the water will be. effectually prevented from freezing and will be easily maintained in a proper condition for use. When the entire heater is submerged, the lateral extension 7' will, of course, impart-heat to the lower portion of the water,V so that av circulation of kwater will beset'up -andthe entire body of waterwvill be heated. The flat top'y `may vbe utilized aslagstove top to Vsupport 'vessels lcontaining feed `to be cookedl orwhe'ate'd. While any desired' fuel may be used in the heater, I prefer, and -it is intended more lparticularly to'employ kerosene orsimilar fuel whichproduces a veryqintense heat quickly at a low cost and without excessive labor on the part of theuser. VA-cutfofi fvalve, may be provided inthe supply pipe` 13,'as indicated at 22, and this valve may -be manipulated by removingr the cover 10 and then insertingV thearm through the column "1 so that the intensity of the iiame and volume of the heat-mayV be regulated to a nicety. By properly adjusting the'damper 11,-the flow of air tothe burner may be con- VVtr'olledv and the proper heat'maintainedat all times. rlhe'fuel supply pipe is disposed lat one side of the column 1 so that it will not interfere with; an .inspection of the burner, the adjustment of the cut-off valve, nor the manipulation of the door 17, and the burnermay be inserted or removed without being` detached from the pipe. The gases land products of combustion rising from the burner will iiow laterally through the VeX- tension of the heating chamber and then es. '.'cape through the smoke pipe 9,V as will be readily understood. `The anges 19 on the door'l aid in preventing warping of the same under the influence ofthe-heat, and Ythe saiddoor may be ro'cked'about its lower The main body ofthe heater is -asingle casting soV that Vit will belwater-tight and its 1own weight will hold it upon the bottom of VSupply pipe.

the .tank while the entire heating chamber will be submerged and none of the heat units can escape t'o the air. A large supporting base -is provided so that the stability of the device is enhanced, and, by making the main body of a single casting, it is rendered very durable. The device is entirely free of all complicatedconstruction and arrangements and cannot get out of order and may be easily understoodandl operated byanyunskilled person. The-vertical member of the heaterV or column 1 constitutesV an air chamf ber for supplying the air necessary to support combustion to the heating chamber and this air iscaused to enter the heating chamber ybelow the `burner so--that itfwill properly lcommingle with the oil'V or other fuel and produce the `desired'flame, ther'formation of ysoot being avoidedsothat the eiiciency of the heater is not impaired. YThe said vertical member 1 also constitutes an inspection chamber through which` the c'on dition of the'iame may be observedl -and Yaccommodates the user?s arm when itf'is de- 1 Winds which tend to destroy the eflciency i of heaters'heretoforeemployed. vThe device may also be set up inV out-buildings wherea mild Vheatris desired at a lowlcostand without danger of coniagration.

Having thus described the is claimed as new is: Y

1./ A device for the purpose-set forth consisting of a body having a vertically disposedair -1 supply` chamber and a heating invention, What chamber extending laterally from lone side* of the said` air supply chamber, a partition between the two chambers having 1an! openn ingtherethroug'h and a notchinione side Yof lsaid opening, afuelsupply pipeY leading downwardly through the airsupply chamber` and extending laterally through the Y said notehto support a burner within the heating chamber, afclosure for the'opening inV said partition having arecessy in `its flower end, and a cover VVfor the air supply'chamber'provided with a regulating damper and having a notch in one edge to accommodate the-fuel 2. A device for the purpose setforth comally yfrom one side 4ofthe said .airfsupply prising a body having an air supplyfrcham- 'L vber and a heating chamberextending laterchamber.a partitionbetween the two'cham- Y Abers havingY an 'opening therethrough, and aV closure for vsaid opening provided with ribs on onelface near its sidepedges adapted to extend through and frictionally engage the sides of the opening, said'closure resting on vthe bottom ofthe bodyand-"having a notch in its lower end.

3.1A device Afor the purpose setsforthcom? i iso prising a body having an air supply column, a heating chamber on the Side of the column at the lower end thereofl and a lateral eX- tension at the upper end of the heating' chamber, means for admitting air to the air supply column, an escape flue rising frein the lateral extension at the free end thereof, an inclined partition between the heating chamber and the ooluinn extending downwardly into the column, said partition having an opening therethrough and provided with a notch at one side of the opening, a fuel supply pipe passing downwardly within the column and through the notch in the parti-V tion, a burner on said pipe within the heating' chamber, and a door adapted to close the opening in the partition and provided with a recess in its lower end und with ribs on one lzlee to extend through the opening,l in the partition and frietionally engage the sides of said opening' and located at opposite sides ol the burner.

In testimony whereof I allix my signature.

JOSEPH Gr. VIDHELM. [L.s.]

Copies o! this patent may be obtained for ve cents each, by addressing the "Commissioner of Patents, Washington, D. 0." 

